I've made my choice and I'm going with the car I've been looking at since years and years back. What I initially intended to be my first car, will now end up being a project car, but I'll have it - so that’s all that matters. The advantage of leaving this in shop for a while before turning it into a daily driver is the ability to tear it apart and fix/clean/replace anything and everything that needs it. But here's where my dilemma lays: What model should I get? I’m trying to lean away from the TII because of reliability issues, but its not totally out of mind.

Remember, this will inevitably be my daily driver and I'll have this in shop for a long time before I even take it for more than a 5min test-drive, so it is possible for me to do extensive work on it. I need something I can buy for cheap (say, under $2k). All it has to do is be able to drive to my school. I want something that will give me the least amount of hassle. I'll do an engine swap, but it has to be a reliable engine (lasts over 100k miles) and it can’t require major modifications like cutting up the engine bay and/or redoing most of the electrical system. I'd also like to avoid the 86-88 years so I don’t have to deal with that black stripe. What model should I go for? Any options I should look into swapping from the TII? What would you suggest?

 

Well under $2,000...does it have to currently be running? I hope you plan on rebuilding the engine in any car you get if you want it to last another 100k anyways. I say get an S5 TII with a blown motor if you can find one. If not, an S4 TII(the body moldings can be painted). NAs are fun little cars, but if you are into speed you will get bored rather quickly, and the mods run out fairly quickly too. I've had both and thats my take on it.

 

Speed is something I do like. Anythings better than what I'm currently driving. Only real problem I have with the TII is the reliability. I've heard so many people complaining about engine problems (not just it blowing up, but of it acting up long before hand). If I put a brand new TII engine in it, how long do you think it would be before I started seeing problems forming?

This may sound evil, but when swapping in a small block, do they sell full kits that aid you in taking on such a drastic project so you dont spend your life trying to get the ECU to work with the stock wiring setup?

 

If properly maintained and such, TII engines are fine for 130k+(some alot more).



I am not sure about details, but check out www.grannysspeedshop.com